‘Battered baby’s parents were not mentally unfit’

The recently submitted psychiatric evaluation report of Firdaus and Zeenat Sayyed, the parents of two-year-old Tanaaz Sayyed who was allegedly battered to death at home stated that they had no mental illness.

In October, Firdaus was arrested for culpable homicide not amounting to murder after the forensic medicine department submitted a report stating that the baby was battered for nearly a year. Police had earlier police sought a psychiatric evaluation of the parents — Firdaus and Zeenat Sayyed from KEM hospital.

Dr Shubhangi Parkar, academic dean of KEM Hospital, Parel, in her report stated the parents did not suffer from any mental illness.

“The couple had little help to raise children. The mother admitted to me that she had left to buy vegetables leaving the child, barely a few months old, alone on the cot,” said Dr Parkar.

Dr Parkar said she spent a few months trying to understand their circumstances, the family dynamics, and their marriage. “She was already pregnant when Tanaaz died. The pregnancy was a high risk and difficult one. She was not able to take care of the child,” said Dr Parkar.

About a week ago, the police filed a charge sheet in the court against Firduas.

The police has collected forensic and doctor’s reports, said Nandkumar Mehetar, senior police inspector, Shahu Nagar police station. “The proofs are enough to make a strong case,” he said, adding the psychiatric evaluation report is yet to be received.

“The Forensic Science Laboratory report in the case is yet to ascertain the cause of death. While the baby was definitely battered, we need to know if the child died because of that,” said Dr Rajesh Dere, associate professor, Forensic Medicine, Sion Hospital.